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The first phase created six 5-a-side floodlit football pitches

More than £5m is being spent improving facilities at three council-run leisure centres in Flintshire.

A new gym and pitches have been completed in a £2.4m development at Deeside which includes an indoor extreme sports area still to be completed.

A 10-pin bowling alley is being built at Flint in a £1.1m upgrade.

And a new fitness suite and dance studio will be opened in Buckley next year as part of a £1m revamp.

The county council has entered into a partnership with a private firm, Alliance Leisure, to carry out the improvements.

Councillor Dennis Hutchinson, executive member for leisure and public protection at Flintshire council, said: "In these difficult financial times, when all the talk is of public sector budget cuts, partnering with a private sector company has allowed us to make facility and service improvements for the benefit of our community."

... partnering with a private sector company has allowed us to make facility and service improvements...Dennis Hutchinson, Councillor

High ropes course

He said their aim was to encourage more people to take part in regular sport and physical activity.

The work at Deeside leisure centre is being completed in phases.

The first phase created six 5-a-side floodlit football pitches.

The second phase being officially opened next month includes an 80-station fitness suite, two fitness studios, a toning studio and new changing rooms.

The final phase, due to be completed in January 2012, includes a day spa and an indoor extreme sporting arena with a high ropes course and skate park.

Work is to get under way soon at Flint leisure centre which will see a 10-pin bowling alley in the sports hall with an indoor bowling green on the floor above.

And from next January work is due to start at Buckley leisure centre, attached to Elfed high school, where work includes long awaited extra parking spaces as well as new facilities.

It is hoped upgrades will also be carried out at council leisure centres in Holywell and Mold.